BT is one of seven companies bidding for the new frequencies needed to offer
faster 4G services, Ofcom said today.

Hong Kong’s PCCW, MLL Telecom, and all of the existing mobile network
operators — EE, Vodafone, O2 owner Telefonica and Hutchison, which is behind
Three — are also bidding.

MLL is a private-equity backed company in Buckinghamshire that supports UK
fixed-line and wireless services.

The auction, due to conclude by March, is expected to raise between £2 billion
and £4 billion. The Treasury has factored £3.5 billion of proceeds into this
year’s Budget, while Ofcom has set a minimum price of just